Overview of State-Sponsored Terrorism

State-Sponsored Terrorism

State sponsorship of terrorism remains one of the most
important factors in fostering international terrorism. A
number of governments afford terrorists safehaven, travel
documents, arms, training, and technical expertise. In
addition to support for terrorist groups, some governments
engage directly in terrorism as a tool of their foreign and
domestic policies. Other governments, though not direct
sponsors of terrorist groups, contribute to such groups'
capabilities by allowing them unimpeded transit, permitting
them to operate commercial enterprises, and allowing them
to carry out recruitment and other support activities. Any
type of government support for terrorist groups makes law
enforcement efforts to counter terrorism much more
difficult. Thus, the United States and its allies in the
fight against terrorism have focused on raising the costs
for those governments who support, tolerate, and engage in
terrorism.

The United States currently lists Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya,
North Korea, and Syria as state supporters of terrorism.
This list is maintained pursuant to Section 6 (j) of the
Export Administration Act of 1979. This and related U.S.
statutes impose trade and other restrictions on countries
determined by the secretary of state to have repeatedly
provided support for acts of international terrorism. The
list is sent annually to Congress, though countries can be
added or subtracted at any time that circumstances warrant.
The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen was dropped from
the list in 1990 after it merged with its northern neighbor
to form the Republic of Yemen. Iraq was added to the list
because of its renewed support for terrorist groups in
1990.

The international effort to eliminate state support for
terrorism has achieved some notable results. International
public opinion and cooperation among like-minded
governments have generated great pressure on governments to
change their behavior or, at a minimum, make significant
efforts to hide their involvement in terrorism. This is
reflected in the number of terrorist incidents attributable
to governments on the U.S. list of state supporters of
terrorism. The totals have declined from 176 in 1988 to 58
in 1989 and finally to 54 in 1990. While these numbers are
heartening, it should be noted that the investigations into
the terrorist bombings of Pan Am Flight 103 in December
1988 and of UTA Flight 772 in September 1989 continue and
could uncover involvement of state sponsors.

Indeed, the continuing danger posed by state sponsorship
was demonstrated in 1990 by two developments. First, the
30 May abortive seaborne attack by the Palestine Liberation
Front (PLF) on crowded Israeli beaches was made possible by
Libyan government support for the training, provision, and
transportation of the PLF terrorists. While the operation
was foiled without civilian casualties, the attack
significantly raised tensions in the region and resulted in
the termination of the U.S.-PLO dialogue. Had the
operation succeeded, it could have led to numerous
casualties among bathers on the crowded Tel Aviv public
beaches. Second, after Iraq's August invasion of Kuwait,
the world saw Iraq assemble an impressive array of
terrorist groups aimed at intimidating the international
coalition opposed to the invasion.

Libya's involvement in terrorism during 1990 went beyond
support for the 30 May attack on Israel. Tripoli continued
to shelter and aid the notorious Abu Nidal organization
(ANO), to fund other radical Palestinian groups such as the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General
Command (PFLP-GC), and to support terrorist groups
elsewhere in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Iran continued its use of and support for terrorism in
1990, targeting and assassinating Iranian dissidents
overseas, attacking Saudi officials and interests,
continuing to support the holders of the American and other
Western hostages in Lebanon, and supporting radical
Palestinian groups such as the Palestine Islamic Jihad
(PIJ) and the PFLP-GC. Syria continued to give refuge and
support to Lebanese, Palestinian, Turkish, Japanese, and
Iranian terrorists while maintaining that all attacks on
Israel and the occupied territories are legitimate
"national liberation" efforts. North Korea continued to
harbor some Japanese Red Army (JRA) terrorists and to
provide some support to the New People's Army in the
Philippines. Cuba continued to supply and support groups
that use terrorism in El Salvador, Colombia, Peru,
Honduras, and Chile, among others.

Cuba

Cuba continues to serve as a haven for regional
revolutionaries and to provide military training, weapons,
funds, and guidance to radical subversive groups that use
terrorism. The island today remains a major training
center and transit point for Latin subversives and some
international groups.

El Salvador's Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front
(FMLN) has been the primary beneficiary of Cuba's
clandestine support network over the last several years.
Havana has been the point of origin for most of the weapons
used by the FMLN for insurgent and terrorist operations in
El Salvador. Other Central American groups, notably in
Honduras and Guatemala, have also received Cuban aid. In
South America, Chilean radical leftist groups have been the
favored recipients of Cuban support, but their aid may have
declined since Chile's peaceful transition to civilian rule
in March 1990.

Several rebel organizations have offices and members
stationed in Havana. Wounded rebels are often treated in
Cuban hospitals. With the demise of the pro-Cuban
governments in Panama and Nicaragua, Cuba's support has
become even more important to radical groups.

Iran

Iran's extensive support for terrorism continued during
1990, although the number of terrorist acts attributed to
Iranian state sponsorship dropped to 10 in 1990 from 24 in
1989.

Iran has used its intelligence services extensively to
facilitate and conduct terrorist attacks, particularly
against regime dissidents. Intelligence officers in
embassies have used the diplomatic pouch for conveyance of
weapons and finances for terrorist groups. Iran continued
to strengthen its relationship with Muslim extremists
throughout the world, often providing them with advice and
financial assistance. Over the past year, Iranian support
for terrorism has included:

-- Repeating the call for the death of the author of The
Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie.

-- Assassinations of four antiregime dissidents -- in
Pakistan, Switzerland, Sweden, and France.
-- Supporting radical Shia attacks on Saudi interests,
including the assassinations of three Saudi diplomats, in
retaliation for the execution of the Hajj bombers.

-- Extensive support for Hizballah, the PFLP-GC, the PIJ,
and other groups, including provision of arms, funding, and
training.

Iranian-backed Shia groups are believed to be in control of
Western hostages in Lebanon, and most observers believe
that the key to releasing the hostages rests with Iran.
One such group, Hizballah, is believed to hold all of the
remaining American hostages. Iranian President All Akbar
Hashemi-Rafsanjani, whose domestic political strength
increased during 1990, is thought to favor a pragmatic
approach to foreign policy and improved relations with the
West, which would require resolution of the hostage
problem. For example, The Tehran Times, a newspaper
considered to reflect Rafsanjani's views, editorialized on
22 February that the hostages should be freed without
preconditions. Two months later, U.S. hostages Robert
Polhill and Frank Reed were released. The hostage releases
received some criticism from hardline elements both in Iran
and within Hizballah who questioned whether Iran or the
hostage holders had received any benefit for their actions
in terms of a good will gesture from the West. No more
U.S. hostages were freed in 1990, and press reports
indicated that Iran was seeking rewards before any further
movement on the hostages was possible.

Major terrorist figures, including Ahmad Jabril of the
PFLP-GC and various prominent members of Hizballah,
frequently visit Iran. Iran hosted a World Conference on
Palestine in Tehran in December in an effort to gain
increasing influence over Islamic affairs, in general, and
over the Palestinian movement, in particular. Leaders of
several radical Palestinian and Lebanese groups including
Salqa, Hamas, Hizballah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
attended.

Iraq

Iraq was returned to the terrorist list in September 1990
because of its increased contact with, and support for,
terrorist groups. After the formation of an international
coalition against the invasion of Kuwait, Iraqi officials
issued public statements endorsing terrorism as a
legitimate tactic.

Following its invasion of Kuwait on 2 August, the
government of Iraq systematically seized the citizens of
the United States and many other nations. This occurred in
both Kuwait and Iraq and continued for several months.
Many of the hostages were moved to strategic sites in Iraq,
including armaments factories, weapons research facilities,
and major military bases.

This mass act of hostage taking was condemned by nations
throughout the world, and the U.N. Security Council adopted
Resolution 664, demanding that Iraq release these hostages.

Saddam Hussein eventually released the hostages, starting
with women and children. By December, all the Western
hostages were freed, but many Kuwaitis remained in
captivity.

Hostage taking on the scale undertaken by Iraq is
unprecedented in recent history. Saddam Hussein's
operation represented a cynical and futile attempt to
terrorize both foreign nationals and their governments and
to weaken international resolve to oppose his occupation
and annexation of Kuwait.

During 1990, and particularly after 2 August, the press
reported increasing movement of terrorists to Baghdad,
signaling the deepening relationship between these groups
and Iraq. Even before the invasion of Kuwait, Iraq
provided safehaven, training, and other support to
Palestinian groups with a history of terrorist actions.
The Arab Liberation Front (ALF) and Abu Abbas's PLF,
responsible for the 1985 Achille Lauro hijacking and the
terrorist attack on Israel beaches in May, are among these
groups. The ANO is also reported to have restablished its
presence in Iraq in the first half of 1990. Abu Ibrahim,
leader of the now-defunct 15 May terrorist organization and
famed for his skill as a bombmaker, is also reportedly
based in Baghdad.

With the end of the Iran-Iraq war, Iraq reduced its support
for anti-Iranian dissident groups including the Mujahidin-
e-Khaiq (MEK). Speculation continues regarding increased
Iraqi support for the terrorist Kurdish Worker's Party
(PKK) in Turkey. This is coupled with the worsening of
Turkish-Iraqi relations over Turkey's enforcement of U.N.
mandated trade sanctions after the invasion of Kuwait and
disputes over water rights.

Senior Iraqi government officials, including Foreign
Minister Tariq Aziz, made public statements justifying
terrorism as a legitimate Iraqi response in the event of
hostilities between Iraq and the multinational force
deployed in the region. There were reports that Iraq
planned to put these words into effect and that Iraqi
officials, as well as Baghdad's Palestinian surrogates,
conducted surveillance against various coalition targets.

Libya

In 1990, Libya demonstrated its continued support for
terrorism by supporting the Palestine Liberation Front's
failed 30 May seaborne attack on crowded Israeli beaches.
Tripoli helped the PLF plan, train for, supply, and carry
out the seaborne operation.

Since 1986, Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi has made public
disclaimers about his support for terrorist groups. He
continued to provide money, training, and other support to
his terrorist clients. Qadhafi's claims of having expelled
certain terrorist groups -- the PLF, ANO, and PFLP-GC --
remained unsubstantiated as of the end of 1990. Libya also
resumed funding to the PFLP-GC, and possibly other
Palestinian terrorist groups, in 1990.

Libya also continues its support for a variety of
terrorist/insurgent groups worldwide. In the Philippines,
Libya has supported the NPA, which carried out terrorist
attacks against Americans that killed five persons in 1990.
Costa Rican officials believe that all 15 members of the
Santamaria Patriotic Organization (OPS) arrested in Costa
Rica in February for grenade attacks against U.S.
facilities had undergone terrorist training in Libya. The
group that attacked the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament on
27 July in a coup attempt, which killed several persons,
received training and financial support from Libya, among
others.

In April, Ethiopia expelled two Libyan diplomats for
alleged involvement in the 30 March bombing at the Hilton
Hotel in Addis Ababa.

Throughout 1990, indications of Libya's previous
involvement in acts of terrorism emerged. According to
German press reports, German officials uncovered evidence
in the files of the now-defunct East German secret police,
the Stasi, that demonstrated Libyan responsibility for the
1986 bombing of the La Belle Disco in West Berlin.

In addition, according to press reports, the investigation
into the September 1989 bombing of the French UTA Flight
772 -- which killed 170 persons, including seven Americans
-- indicates that the bomb was brought into Congo in the
Libyan diplomatic pouch and delivered to three Libyan-
trained Congolese terrorists by an official of the Libyan
Embassy in Brazzaville. African and French press reports
state that both the Congolese and Zairians are holding
suspects who have implicated Libya in the bombing.

Press reports in late 1990 also laid much of the
responsibility on the Libyans for the bombing in December
1988 of Pan Am Flight 103. According to American, British,
and French press, investigators discovered that the
detonator used in the Pan am Flight 103 bombing was
identical to one carried by two Libyan agents arrested in
Dakar, Senegal, in February 1988. The official
investigation into both of these cases was continuing
through the end of 1990.

North Korea

North Korea is not known to have sponsored a terrorist
attack since members of its intelligence service planted a
bomb on a South Korean airliner in 1987. However, it
continues to provide safehaven to a small group of Japanese
Red Army (JRA) members who hijacked a JAL airliner to North
Korea in 1970. North Korea has provided some support to
the New People's Army in the Philippines. It has not
renounced the use of terrorism.
Syria

There is no direct evidence of Syrian government
involvement in terrorist attacks outside Lebanon since
1987, although Syria continues to provide support and
safehaven to groups that engage in international terrorism.

Syria has made some progress in moving away from support
for some terrorist groups. Syria has also cooperated with
Iran and others to obtain the release of Western hostages
held by terrorist groups in Lebanon, including the
successful release of American hostages Polhill and Reed in
the spring of 1990. The government-controlled media has
described the Abu Nidal organization as a terrorist
organization, but the Syrian government has failed to take
concrete measures against the ANO in Syrian-controlled
areas of Lebanon.

At the same time, Syria publicly supports the Palestinians'
right to armed struggle for their independence. President
Assad has publicly defended and supported Palestinian
attacks in Israel and the occupied territories. Syria
continues to provide political and material support for
Palestinian groups who maintain their headquarters in
Damascus and who have committed terrorist acts in the past,
most notably the PFLP-GC whose propaganda radio station, al
Quds, broadcasts from Syrian soil. It also hosts the Abu
Musa group, the Popular Struggle Front (PSF), the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).
The leader of the PFLP had publicly stated that he would
carry out attacks against U.S. targets and others opposed
to Iraq in the event of a military clash in the Gulf. At
year's end, no such attacks had occurred.

The United States continued to express its serious concern
to the Syrian government -- both publicly and privately --
about terrorist groups supported by Syria. The Syrian
government has taken some positive steps, particularly
since the beginning of the Gulf crisis in August 1990, to
rein in terrorist groups based in Syria. The did not,
however, take steps to close down these groups or expel
them from Syria.

Syria has taken no steps to disband or eliminate the
presence of other terrorist organizations, such the Kurdish
Worker's Party (PKK), the Armenian Secret Army for the
Liberation of Armenia (ASALA), and the Japanese Red Army.
A number of these groups have camps in Lebanon's Bekaa
Valley, which is under the control of Syrian forces. Syria
also tolerates the presence of a faction of the Palestinian
Islamic Jihad that took responsibility for the massacre in
February of nine Israeli civilians on a tour bus in Egypt.
The PIJ statement was broadcast on the PFLP-GC-controlled
radio station in southern Syria.

In 1990, and particularly since the Iraqi invasion of
Kuwait, Syria has attempted to minimize its public
association with terrorist activities and groups in the
international arena, apparently in an attempt to improve
its standing with the West. Syrian officials have said
that Syria is committed to bring to justice and punish
those individuals within Syria's jurisdiction accused of
acts of terrorism, if given supporting evidence of their
crimes. They have also repeated that any organization that
is involved in terrorist crimes will have to bear the
consequences. Following the September visit by Secretary
of State James Baker, Syrian Foreign Minister Shara' stated
publicly that Syria condemned all forms of terrorism,
including hijacking and hostage taking. However, Syria
continues to draw a distinction between "legitimate
struggle against the occupation troops" and acts of
terrorism -- a fundamental difference between U.S. and
Syrian news.